This initiative in town encourages one to share their thoughts, memories and stories of dealing with loss
One can never really be fully prepared for loss — of a loved one or of a thing of value. It creates a void of sorts in the heart, and all that one is left with are memories. But how about if you could share your grief with others who, too, have dealt with loss? Wouldn’t that be therapeutic? That’s what this initiative in the city, titled The Memory Project — the last edition of which was held in April — aims to do in a collective community-style environment.
How does it work? The initiative gives participants a chance to express their feelings through various artistic and abstract mediums. It allows them to open up, to converse about death, loss, grief and longing — subjects that can often be difficult to address.
The initiative encourages participants to bring thoughts, memories, stories, and messages that they’d like to share via a song, a poem, or just their words — a practice that groups around the world follow as a means of therapy, too.
Sharing the space with the participants will be popular names such as Bollywood singer Ankur Tewari, musicians Aarifah Rebello and Dhruv Vishvanath, Dada Saheb Phalke Award-wininng Sufi-ethnic rock band, Alif, and singer-songwriter Kavya Trehan.
“The project showcases how people deal with loss in their own different ways and
I felt that I had something to say. I feel it is extremely essential because it’s talking about dealing with tough situations and honestly not only about losing someone when they pass away,” says Rebello. “It is also a platform for sharing thoughts about losing a friend, a home and experiences. You’ve got to be strong when you lose something and to always be aware that everything is temporary,” she adds.
The project showcases how people deal with loss in their own different ways and I felt that I had something to say.
AARIFAH REBELLO, MUSICIAN